Prior to receiving my diploma, I worked as a CNA for 14 years. In May of 2001, I became unemployed because the nursing home I worked for, shut down. I was uncertain what I would do next. I now had an opportunity to change the direction of my life, but I was uncertain how I would accomplish this task.

I had always wanted to be a nurse, but when I had my children that dream was placed on the back burner. Now that my children were older I finally had the opportunity to pursue this dream.

As a working mother of three children I needed all the support I could receive to accomplish my goal of becoming a nurse. The 1199 Training and Upgrading Fund allowed me to transition from being a CNA to now being an LPN, and I hope they are in existence when I get ready to transition from being an LPN to an RN.